Help me choose a panel?

[DH2]

Hi all.

My CRT was recently declared beyond viable repair, so I am looking for a replacement panel.
I have been offered a Panny 37PX70 second-hand, just over a year, but the price is a bit high when compared to a current model equivalent (37X10 from Der) with a warranty and the ability to ensure it is run-in properly.
I had a look at a friends 42PX70 at the weekend and was quite impressed with it's SD and HD performance, and as I currently have no HD source, SD performance is fairly important in the near future (though I can see it will be a slippery slope to getting into HD!).
I am sitting 7ft from the screen, so I believe may be just on the cusp of getting benefit from 1080p, but perhaps only if I go for 42. Are there any other gains in going 1080p, I'm not sure there are really, as I'm not really into console gaming.
I'm working on the assumption that the 37X10 is going to be pretty similar to the 37PX70, but a bit better due to having newer processing in it?

Any help much appreciated,
DH2

Edited by DH2 on Monday 14th September 16:23

[headcase]

Id avoid the px70 they are known for premature screen failure.

[DH2]

headcase said:

Id avoid the px70 they are known for premature screen failure.

Thanks. I've read something about mysterious vertical lines appearing on the screen, the panel being replaced, but Panasonic not admitting a fault.
I think I'm fairly convinced that the 37X10 is the way for me to go now - fingers crossed.

DH2

[PJ S]

Sunday was the 2nd anniversary of owning our 37PX70, which is in use daily for at least 4 hours.
Not had one blip or anything negative, and it's looked good on DVD, 360, Virgin, and Virgin-provided analogue.
I have no knowledge of any known issue with this set (may have come to light to Panasonic after we'd purchased) and have no hesitation in recommending the X10 variant.
But......I would seriously explore the 42" side of things, and if you went for the Full HD 42G10, you have the FreeSat in-built, higher contrast ratio, and a very good scaler that won't make SD look dire, along with a few other features potentially worth the extra ££ - especially if you factor in the true additional cost over the projected life of ownership (3-5 years?).

[DH2]

PJ S said:

Sunday was the 2nd anniversary of owning our 37PX70, which is in use daily for at least 4 hours.
Not had one blip or anything negative, and it's looked good on DVD, 360, Virgin, and Virgin-provided analogue.
I have no knowledge of any known issue with this set (may have come to light to Panasonic after we'd purchased) and have no hesitation in recommending the X10 variant.

Thanks PJ. I guess for every negative story kicking around on the internet, there are tens of positive ones which don't. But given the price I was offered the PX70 for, I'd rather add not all that much more for a new screen, with a warranty, that I can ensure gets run-in properly.

PJ S said:

But......I would seriously explore the 42" side of things, and if you went for the Full HD 42G10, you have the FreeSat in-built, higher contrast ratio, and a very good scaler that won't make SD look dire, along with a few other features potentially worth the extra ££ - especially if you factor in the true additional cost over the projected life of ownership (3-5 years?).

Interesting. I need to have a measure up to see whether a 42 works in the space (and room) replacing the space occupied by the 32 CRT. FreeSat doesn't hold much appeal to me at present because I don't want to uglify my house with a dish - for alignment purposes, I think it would be particularly prominent, but will check. If the 42G will look better for SD content, over the 37X, then it might convince me, but what I have read to date doesn't exactly suggest this? I could be wrong however... Also it's a near doubling of the budget!

Really appreciate your input, thanks.

DH2